Steven R. Kenner

Steven R. Kenner, 56, Bismarck, died July 8, 2011, at Medcenter One in Bismarck. Funeral services will be held on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at the Bismarck Civic Center with Rev. Craig Schweitzer officiating. Following the funeral service, burial will be held at the ND Veterans Cemetery in Mandan. Visitation will be Wednesday from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at Washington Street and Divide Avenue, Bismarck. There will be no viewing the day of the funeral service. Steven R. Kenner was born February 1, 1955, in Denver, CO, the son of Harry and Julia Jones Kenner. He graduated from high school and trained for a career in law enforcement in Colorado before moving to Bismarck, ND, in 1979, where he would become Officer #40 for the Bismarck Police Department. In September 1981, Steve enlisted in the North Dakota National Guard to pursue training as a military police officer. He completed his basic training in December 1981 and was quickly promoted to SP4 in September 1982, and then to SSG in July 1983. He went on to have a successful and decorated enlistment in the North Dakota National Guard. Steve was discharged as a 1st Lieutenant in May 1994. While working at the Bismarck Police Department in 1979, he met a beautiful young lady who would eventually become his wife. Steve and Debbie Sandmeier were married on March 10, 1992, and he continued to work at the Bismarck Police Department while raising their family, James, Stephen, Kailey, and Tayler. Steve was active in the Fraternal Order of Police as a charter member since 1993. It was not uncommon for Steve to take on extra duties for causes he believed in, and quickly became treasurer of the Missouri Valley Fraternal Order of Police. Before long, his work ethic and commitment to law enforcement found him as a national trustee representing the North Dakota State Lodge. He enjoyed his involvement in the FOP and was proud to be a law enforcement officer. Steve often pursued other challenges in addition to his work as an officer. One of his proudest accomplishments was becoming the first of only two in the state of North Dakota to receive the ACTAR Accreditation Commission Traffic Accident Reconstruction license. He started his own business, C.A.R Collision Analysis Reconstruction, and was well-known and respected for his work by courts throughout the state. He was also a member of the Midwest Association of Traffic Accident Investigators and several other collision investigation fraternities. Steve received honors and awards for his work as a police officer throughout his career. Some usual and others not so usual. In 1983, Steve received a letter in his personnel file from his shift commander for writing the highest number of DUI's for the year. In 1988 he received the Life Saving Award, and in 2000 he was promoted to SGT. In 1994 he was nominated by the Bismarck Tribune for "Outstanding Person 1993" and has numerous letters of appreciation from many of the citizens he protected and served, and some whom he arrested over his 32-year career. Most recently he received a certificate of appreciation from the NDNG Military Police Battalion 191 for "Outstanding Performance and Undaunted Professionalism" for his work during the 2011 flood operations. Missing him deeply will be his wife of 19 years, Debbie and his children, James, 27 now living in Orlando, FL, Stephen, 18, Kailey, 14, and Tayler, 9, all of Bismarck. Steve also will be missed by his father in-law, Emil Sandmeier Bonnie; brother-in-law, Bryan Sandmeier Valeri of Tennessee; Nancy Sandmeier and their children, Brandon, Britney Joe and son Benjamin of Kansas; Debbie's grandmother, Minnie Schmidtgall of South Dakota; aunts and uncles, Daniel and Paulette Petersen and their daughter, Mallory, her fiancé, Chris Dekker, South Dakota, Darlene Sandmeier, Louisiana, Betty and LeRoy Sandmeier, South Dakota, and Patricia and Robert Fite, and their son Don of Texas. While he would deny a fondness for them, he loved the family cats as much as they loved him. Steven was preceded in death by his parents and mother-in-law, Gladys Sandmeier. Steven will be sadly missed by his family, friends, brothers and sisters-in-law, his law enforcement friends, and the community he proudly and honorably protected for 32 years.

Steven R. Kenner

February 1, 1955 - July 8, 2011